On Sunday morning September 9th, I got up early with Brent still in bed and made my way down the stairs for a quick breakfast. I sat in the stool tired and wanting to go back to sleep. It really was not that early as I wake up early during the week days. I ate some tasty yogurt and granola like usual on race morning. I slowly wandered back up the stairs to get all my gear on so that I could catch the bus to the start. I got on my usual favorite tank top, shorts and visor. With Brent still in bed, I said my goodbyes and went out the door. I headed for downtown. There were few cars on the street on that Sunday morning and the ones that were out there, were other runners headed for the bus. I parked in the parking garage and grabbed by race bag as it was still chilly out and I wanted to continue to wear my hoodie. I arrived just minutes before the buses took off. This was a nice change as I usual arrive early and end up waiting for several minutes.
We all crammed on the buses as the race director went from bus to bus telling us about the race details. The most frustrating news for most runners was that there would only be a couple port-a-potties at the start line. Unfortunately, the forest fires had taken most of the port-a-potties in the surrounding area. We were arriving near the start as the bus driver kept on driving. He went a few miles past the start and ended up having to turn the bus around on a two lane road that had no shoulders. It was an interesting ride but a beautiful one as there was no smoke in the air and we could see the mountains in the distance! The driver took us to the start line where there were only a few people in line for the port-a-potty. I jumped in line as you never know what the race will bring. It is always a good idea to hit that up before the race starts even if you don’t have to go.
I walked up to the start line that was on top of this little hill. I found the one and only person I knew at this race and chatted with him for a minute. This was going to be his first half marathon! Always exciting to hear someone running a new distance for the first time. The race was about to start, so I found my spot behind the start line and got ready. The gun went off and I headed down the little hill back towards Bozeman. It was a beautiful run with the Bridger Mountains off in the distance. I was not set on a PR for this race. I just wanted to run it for fun and have one last longer race before the Nike Women’s Marathon that is this coming Sunday (14th) by the way! I was averaging a good mile pace.
It was great to be feeling so good while running. My runs this summer have been interesting to say the least. The course most mostly the same as last year with just a few differences towards the end. This year we got to run down Wilson street which is a beautiful street with the huge trees and especially with all the fall colors. Then it wound down to Main street where they had blocked it off for several blocks. One day when this race gets bigger, it will be the perfect finish area. This race has a lot of potential to grow, so if anyone is thinking of running a half or a full I highly recommend it for the views. There are a few hills, but it is mostly a downhill/flat course. It is almost the perfect course for a PR. I was noticing that I was going to come in pretty close to my PR which I set on this race last year. I picked it up in the last couple miles, but I must have slacked off too much in the beginning. Not that I was planning to do great, but I crossed the line about a minute off from my PR. One day I will break 1:45 for my half marathon time. Not this year, but I am okay with that.
The race ended well. I came in front of a girl that had raced the Three Forks Half Marathon back in July. She had come in just in front of me on that race. We chatted for a moment, I found my race bag and then some food. Brent was not there to greet me as we had decided that if I wanted to do this race, I would be alone. He was off at church and I was going to rush home to make it there for as much as I could. I headed home and got ready for the day. I took off for church and made it before the sermon had begun. It was perfect timing and the race was the perfect way to start that Sunday morning. It was kind of fun to run the race on my own and be there by myself. It was a new experience and it was a good one for me.
Jessica’s Results – If you missed the post back in September.
Time: 1:48:36.9
Pace: 8:17 min/mi
Overall: 99 out of 409
Age Group: 4 out of 35
I am so ready for the marathon this weekend and the vacation in general!